Former Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone, 95, has reportedly been arrested in Portugal for allegedly carrying a shotgun. The incident occurred at Tires Aerodrome, near Lisbon, after Ecclestone arrived on his private jet.
Airport police reportedly made the arrest during a routine operation. The weapon in question has been described locally as a shotgun. This is not the first time Ecclestone has faced legal issues related to firearms. In May 2022, he was arrested in Brazil for illegally carrying a gun while attempting to board a private plane. At the time, he acknowledged owning the gun but claimed he was unaware it was in his luggage.
Following the 2022 incident in Brazil, Ecclestone was freed after paying bail and was allowed to travel to Switzerland. He described the event as a "silly, tiny little incident" that caused significant aggravation for him and his family. Despite official statements from Sao Paulo's public security office confirming an arrest for firearm possession, Ecclestone had previously denied being formally arrested, stating he had purchased the handgun years prior as a deterrent and kept it at home, joking about it with visitors.
In April, reports indicated that Ecclestone's wife had purchased a mansion in the Quinta da Marinha resort area in Cascais for approximately £35 million, a transaction described by Portuguese media as the largest private home sale in the country's history. There has been no official comment from the Portuguese police regarding the recent reported arrest.